Newport News police may be able to prosecute posters on Facebook page about Menchville High

NEWPORT NEWS— — Newport News police have completed their review of a Facebook page about Menchville High School that caused so many problems early this week it had to be shut down, and there is evidence the law may have been broken.

"We have gone through the whole 59 page," said police spokesman Lou Thurston. "There may be or could be some sort of a possible violation of state code."

Police worked with Facebook officials Tuesday to pull down the page, which contained negative information of the type commonly called a "dirt page" or "burn page."

Rumors about a gun at Menchville Tuesday reached some parents, about two dozen of whom called the school to ask what was going on. The rumors were believed to have stemmed from posts about a gun and shooting on the page, and Newport News Public Schools officials asked for police assistance with contacting Facebook.

A police investigation was opened, and Thurston said Thursday it was at a standstill unless a victim comes forward.

The law that possibly was broken is called harassment by computer in the state code, and violation of it carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

It states "with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass any person, shall use a computer or computer network to communicate obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious, or indecent language, or make any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature, or threaten any illegal or immoral act."

A victim would have to come forward and say those things happened to them in order for police to take that information to the commonwealth's attorney to see if it could be prosecuted, Thurston said.

"We cannot do anything criminally unless and until a victim steps forward," Thurston said. "We have looked at this, as it stands right now we're at a standstill because we don't have a victim,"